Purpose vs. Reason: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Purpose refers to the intended goal or objective of something, whereas reason is the cause or explanation behind an action or event.
Key Differences
Purpose implies the intention or objective behind an action or existence of something. In contrast, reason refers to the justification or cause that explains why something happened or is done.
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Nov 24, 2023
The purpose of an object or action is its intended use or aim. Conversely, the reason behind something is the logic or rationale that led to a particular decision or occurrence.
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Purpose often denotes the goal or desired outcome of actions, suggesting forward-looking planning. On the other hand, reason usually looks backward, identifying the cause or basis for something that has occurred or been decided.
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While purpose is about the 'what' and 'for what' of actions and objects, reason deals with the 'why', providing explanations and understandings of actions and occurrences.
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An individual's purpose in life reflects their aspirations and goals, whereas their reason for specific actions delves into their motivations and justifications for those actions.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Intended goal or objective
Cause or explanation for an action/event
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Temporal Focus
Forward-looking (aims and objectives)
Backward-looking (causes and justifications)
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Relation to Action/Object
What it is for or intended to achieve
Why it exists or has been done
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Role in Planning
Guides future actions or designs
Analyzes or justifies past actions
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Purpose and Reason Definitions
Purpose
The reason for which something exists or is done.
The purpose of education is to impart knowledge.
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Reason
Justification for a belief or action.
She had good reason to be upset.
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Purpose
An objective or aim that one strives for.
Her purpose in life was to help others.
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Reason
The basis or motive for an action, decision, or conviction
There are good reasons to learn a foreign language. See Usage Notes at because, why.
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Purpose
The intended goal of something.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the new project.
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Reason
A declaration made to explain or justify action, decision, or conviction
What reasons did she give for leaving?.
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Purpose
The desired outcome or result of an action.
The purpose of this exercise is to build strength.
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Reason
A fact or cause that explains why something exists or has occurred
The reason for the building's collapse is unknown.
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Purpose
The object toward which one strives or for which something exists; an aim or goal
Her purpose in coming here is to talk to you. The purpose of an airliner is to transport people.
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Reason
The capacity for logical, rational, and analytic thought; intelligence
"Most of us would like to believe that when we say something is right or wrong, we are using our powers of reason alone" (Carl Zimmer).
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Purpose
To intend or resolve
"the gap between what is said and what is purposed" (Ian Donaldson).
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Reason
The limit of what is reasonable
"It is a curious thing that, when a man hates or loves beyond reason, he is ready to go beyond reason to gratify his feelings" (Rudyard Kipling).
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Purpose
The end for which something is done, is made or exists.
What is the purpose of your visit?
My purpose in coming to Egypt was simply to take it en route to the desert.
It has been my purpose to illustrate rather than to explain.
The exceptionally small gate-leg table served the purpose of a tea table admirably.
The purpose of the device is to prevent the breechblock from opening accidentally should the gun be held barrel down.
The purpose of this letter is to set the record straight.
The purpose of this book is to study the interrelationship of government and religion.
The device can be used for both civilian and military purposes.
The purpose of turning off the lights overnight is to save energy.
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Reason
To determine or conclude by logical thinking
The doctor reasoned that the patient had a virus.
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Reason
To persuade or dissuade (someone) with reasons
"You boast ... of having reasoned him out of his absurd romance" (William Makepeace Thackeray).
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Reason
To use the faculty of reason; think logically
What would lead you to reason so?.
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Reason
To talk or argue logically and persuasively
Tried to reason with her son to eat a good breakfast.
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Purpose
(transitive) To have or set as one's purpose or aim; resolve to accomplish; intend; plan.
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Purpose
(intransitive) To have (an) intention, purpose, or design; to intend; to mean.
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Reason
That which causes something: an efficient cause, a proximate cause.
The reason this tree fell is that it had rotted.
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Purpose
That which a person sets before himself as an object to be reached or accomplished; the end or aim to which the view is directed in any plan, measure, or exertion; view; aim; design; intention; plan.
He will his firste purpos modify.
As my eternal purpose hath decreed.
The flighty purpose never is o'ertookUnless the deed go with it.
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Reason
A motive for an action or a determination.
The reason I robbed the bank was that I needed the money.
If you don't give me a reason to go with you, I won't.
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Reason
An excuse: a thought or a consideration offered in support of a determination or an opinion; that which is offered or accepted as an explanation.
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Reason
(uncountable) Rational thinking (or the capacity for it); the cognitive faculties, collectively, of conception, judgment, deduction and intuition.
Mankind should develop reason above all other virtues.
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Purpose
To propose, as an aim, to one's self; to determine upon, as some end or object to be accomplished; to intend; to design; to resolve; - often followed by an infinitive or dependent clause.
Did nothing purpose against the state.
I purpose to write the history of England from the accession of King James the Second down to a time which is within the memory of men still living.
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Reason
(obsolete) Something reasonable, in accordance with thought; justice.
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Purpose
An anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions;
His intent was to provide a new translation
Good intentions are not enough
It was created with the conscious aim of answering immediate needs
He made no secret of his designs
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Purpose
What something is used for;
The function of an auger is to bore holes
Ballet is beautiful but what use is it?
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Reason
(intransitive) To perform a process of deduction or of induction, in order to convince or to confute; to argue.
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Purpose
The quality of being determined to do or achieve something;
His determination showed in his every movement
He is a man of purpose
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Reason
(ambitransitive) To arrange and present the reasons for or against; to examine or discuss by arguments; to debate or discuss.
I reasoned the matter with my friend.
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Purpose
A specific function or role something is meant to serve.
The purpose of this tool is to measure distance.
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Reason
(transitive) To persuade by reasoning or argument.
To reason one into a belief; to reason one out of his plan
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Reason
To find by logical process; to explain or justify by reason or argument.
To reason out the causes of the librations of the moon
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Reason
A thought or a consideration offered in support of a determination or an opinion; a just ground for a conclusion or an action; that which is offered or accepted as an explanation; the efficient cause of an occurrence or a phenomenon; a motive for an action or a determination; proof, more or less decisive, for an opinion or a conclusion; principle; efficient cause; final cause; ground of argument.
I'll give him reasons for it.
The reason of the motion of the balance in a wheel watch is by the motion of the next wheel.
This reason did the ancient fathers render, why the church was called "catholic."
Virtue and vice are not arbitrary things; but there is a natural and eternal reason for that goodness and virtue, and against vice and wickedness.
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Reason
The faculty or capacity of the human mind by which it is distinguished from the intelligence of the inferior animals; the higher as distinguished from the lower cognitive faculties, sense, imagination, and memory, and in contrast to the feelings and desires. Reason comprises conception, judgment, reasoning, and the intuitional faculty. Specifically, it is the intuitional faculty, or the faculty of first truths, as distinguished from the understanding, which is called the discursive or ratiocinative faculty.
We have no other faculties of perceiving or knowing anything divine or human, but by our five senses and our reason.
In common and popular discourse, reason denotes that power by which we distinguish truth from falsehood, and right from wrong, and by which we are enabled to combine means for the attainment of particular ends.
Reason is used sometimes to express the whole of those powers which elevate man above the brutes, and constitute his rational nature, more especially, perhaps, his intellectual powers; sometimes to express the power of deduction or argumentation.
By the pure reason I mean the power by which we become possessed of principles.
The sense perceives; the understanding, in its own peculiar operation, conceives; the reason, or rationalized understanding, comprehends.
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Reason
Due exercise of the reasoning faculty; accordance with, or that which is accordant with and ratified by, the mind rightly exercised; right intellectual judgment; clear and fair deductions from true principles; that which is dictated or supported by the common sense of mankind; right conduct; right; propriety; justice.
I was promised, on a time,To have reason for my rhyme.
But law in a free nation hath been ever public reason; the enacted reason of a parliament, which he denying to enact, denies to govern us by that which ought to be our law; interposing his own private reason, which to us is no law.
The most probable way of bringing France to reason would be by the making an attempt on the Spanish West Indies.
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Reason
Ratio; proportion.
When anything is proved by as good arguments as a thing of that kind is capable of, we ought not, in reason, to doubt of its existence.
Yet it were great reason, that those that have children should have greatest care of future times.
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Reason
To exercise the rational faculty; to deduce inferences from premises; to perform the process of deduction or of induction; to ratiocinate; to reach conclusions by a systematic comparison of facts.
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Reason
Hence: To carry on a process of deduction or of induction, in order to convince or to confute; to formulate and set forth propositions and the inferences from them; to argue.
Stand still, that I may reason with you, before the Lord, of all the righteous acts of the Lord.
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Reason
To arrange and present the reasons for or against; to examine or discuss by arguments; to debate or discuss; as, I reasoned the matter with my friend.
When they are clearly discovered, well digested, and well reasoned in every part, there is beauty in such a theory.
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Reason
To persuade by reasoning or argument; as, to reason one into a belief; to reason one out of his plan.
Men that will not be reasoned into their senses.
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Reason
To overcome or conquer by adducing reasons; - with down; as, to reason down a passion.
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Reason
To find by logical processes; to explain or justify by reason or argument; - usually with out; as, to reason out the causes of the librations of the moon.
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Reason
A rational motive for a belief or action;
The reason that war was declared
The grounds for their declaration
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Reason
An explanation of the cause of some phenomenon;
The reason a steady state was never reached was that the back pressure built up too slowly
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Reason
The capacity for rational thought or inference or discrimination;
We are told that man is endowed with reason and capable of distinguishing good from evil
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Reason
The state of having good sense and sound judgment;
His rationality may have been impaired
He had to rely less on reason than on rousing their emotions
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Reason
A justification for something existing or happening;
He had no cause to complain
They had good reason to rejoice
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Reason
A fact that logically justifies some premise or conclusion;
There is reason to believe he is lying
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Reason
Decide by reasoning; draw or come to a conclusion;
We reasoned that it was cheaper to rent than to buy a house
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Reason
A cause or explanation for an action or event.
The reason for his absence was illness.
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Reason
The power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments logically.
He used reason to solve the problem.
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Reason
A factor that motivates or influences a decision.
The main reason for choosing this method was its efficiency.
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Reason
The basis or grounds for a belief or action.
There is no reason to doubt his sincerity.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is purpose always positive?
Not necessarily; purpose is neutral and depends on the intention behind the action.
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What is purpose?
Purpose is the intended goal, aim, or objective of an action or existence.
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Can purpose and reason be the same?
In some contexts, they can overlap, but usually purpose is more about goals, and reason is about causes.
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Can the reason be irrational?
Yes, reasons can be based on emotions or incorrect information.
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Is finding purpose important?
Many believe that finding purpose is key to a fulfilling life.
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What does reason mean?
Reason refers to the cause or explanation behind an action, decision, or belief.
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Do all actions have a reason?
Typically, yes, though the reason may not always be immediately apparent or rational.
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Are reason and logic the same?
Logic is a process of reasoning, but reason can also include emotional or subjective factors.
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How does culture influence reason?
Cultural beliefs and norms can shape the way individuals reason.
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Can one have multiple purposes?
Yes, individuals can have several purposes in different areas of life.
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How do we understand reason in others?
Through communication and empathy, we can understand others' reasons.
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Can purpose be found in everyday activities?
Yes, purpose can be found in both grand aspirations and daily tasks.
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How does purpose affect life?
A clear purpose can provide direction and motivation in life.
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Can purposes change over time?
Yes, purposes can evolve with new experiences and insights.
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Is reason always based on facts?
Not always; reasons can also be influenced by perceptions, beliefs, and feelings.
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Is purpose linked to personal values?
Often, purpose is closely aligned with an individual's values and beliefs.
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Can reason be emotional?
Yes, emotional reasoning is when decisions are made based on feelings rather than logic.
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Is having a purpose necessary for happiness?
Many psychologists believe that a sense of purpose contributes to overall happiness.
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How do we develop reasoning skills?
Through education, critical thinking exercises, and experience.
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How does purpose relate to goals?
Purpose can be seen as the overarching aim that guides specific goals.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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